Ground radiation pattern generated by high-altitude reflectors
Abstract
A method is given to calculate the shape a high-altitude reflector must have to produce any intensity distribution inside the illuminator ground area. The method consists of setting up and solving a differential equation appropriate to the required ground intensity distribution. Cylindrical and spherical mirrors are discussed in detail, and mirror shapes for producing a particular type of uniform ground illumination are derived. These shapes approach paraboloids in the limit when the mirror altitude is much greater than the diameter of the illuminated area.
- Publication:
-
IEEE Transactions on Aerospace Electronic Systems
- Pub Date:
- May 1985
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 1985ITAES..21..331C
- Keywords:
-
- Antenna Design;
- Antenna Radiation Patterns;
- Footprints;
- Ground Effect (Communications);
- High Altitude;
- Reflectors;
- Cylindrical Antennas;
- Differential Equations;
- Geometrical Optics;
- Parabolic Reflectors;
- Physical Optics;
- Radiant Flux Density;
- Reflected Waves;
- Spherical Antennas;
- Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command and Tracking